364 days till Christmas

Last year, we had a white Christmas, which we do not have here in the Northwest. I love snow, and it should have been perfect, but it wasn't, because last year my husband was working in Iraq and we were separated at Christmas for the only time in the last 30 years. So perhaps it isn't weird that all of Christmas Eve, throughout that night, and all day Christmas, I just keep looking at him and thinking "I am so glad you're here."
Maybe that is why Christmas, this year, was as near perfect as it can be without being white.
My younger son and my daughter, my son-in-law and my son's sweetheart were all here on Christmas eve. We went to mass, had mexican food afterward and then came home for eggnog and a few gifts. We got up the next morning and over several pots of coffee we sat in our pajamas and showed each other how much we are loved through giving gifts. I know Christmas is too materialistic, but I love giving gifts to the people I most want to see happy. I love that absolute abandon of lavishing upon those people. I wrap the gifts with special care and they are beautiful-sparkly and tied with bows. And all of the recipients were surprised and delighted, I think. I hope. But then, appreciating gifts is another way we show love for each other.
I did knit something for each of the kids that were here-hats for son and SIL, a hat/scarf for my daughter and a scarf for sons girlfriend. It was fun, and for the most part I didn't have to stress about it. In fact, at one point, a couple of days before Christmas, I sat knitting, listening to Christmas carols, in a clean house and thought-"WOW, this is really how it's supposed to be". It helped that I took several days off work. There were lots of Christmas treats and decorations. I don't know. It is over now, happily so, but it was a wonderful holiday. And I have a wonderful family.

With apologies to Kiernan Foley

I like to do multiple projects-usually a pair of socks, because they fit in my purse in case I have to wait somewhere, then a fairly simple something for mindless knitting-say travelling or something. Of course a sweater-gotta keep up (kind of) with the nakniswemodo group, and usually something even more complex-say a shawl. So back in September-SEPTEMBER- I decided that I was going to knit something with this cone of I-don't-know-what that I got on e-bay a while back. It is probably cotton, maybe a little silk or rayon or linen, I don't really know. Anyway, it made me think of being on a cruise with a flowy cotton sundress, and there is a cool breeze and I need a light, pastel shawl to cover my shoulders. I started looking for a pattern and discovered seascape by Kieran Foley. It was stunning. Knit a little wider, it would make a perfect "cruise" shawl.

I know right away it was a poor choice. The yarn was nubby, which distorted the beautiful pattern. But I rarely tear out something I have spent hours knitting. So on I went. And finally, this morning, I finished. Steam ironing with my rowenta helped a bit. I don't even know if I will go to the trouble of a proper blocking, maybe if we book a cruise! I just wanted to say that I think Mr. Foley is a GENIUS, and I am so sorry for this shawl. As penance I promise to knit some other patterns designed by him and to do them beautifully. I may even knit seascape again. I love it madly. And his colorwork patterns are stunning. So this shawl is no reflection on it's designer.

That said, it is kinda purty from a distance. And the pastel colors in the garden just begged for a photo op with the new, nubby shawl, so here they are...

Picking Berries

In the part of the country where I live (Pacific Northwest), at the time that I grew up (60's & 70's), if you wanted to earn money for school clothes, or anything for that matter, you had a few options. You could babysit if you were a girl, a boy could have a paper route, and everyone could pick berries. Onions and beans too, but I never did that. But berries I picked, starting every year from the time I was 11 years old- first strawberries, then raspberries and blueberries. My grandfather owned the blueberry farm so that usually lasted til the end of the summer. I hated picking berries. Hated getting up early, hated getting my hands frozen by the early morning dew, hated that my best friend Jeanne always outpicked me by a bunch, and, consequently, made more money, which meant more school clothes. Fortunately we were the same size! And I swore that as soon as I was old enough to get a workers permit, at age 14, that I would never pick another berry. Well the summer I was 14 I had a very sophisticated job selling popcorn in a movie theater, and got to see the blockbuster Jaws on my breaks, and have spent many years at REAL jobs since. But I broke my vow nonetheless. Every summer I pick berries. Yesterday I brought in the second picking of blueberries, and continue to baby my strawberries and raspberries, trying to protect them from weeds and diseases and deer. I love my berries like I love my children, they are like some kind of wonderful gift. Of course I don't go out at 5 in the morning, I get to pick them when I want to. But it is interesting what comforts us as we get older. And watching this generation of kids who DID NOT pick berries, or deliver papers, I think that they missed out. I really do. I think.

Computer Junkie

I have always looked a bit askance at technical innovations. I mean, we got along fine without computers when I was a kid, and kids got along fine without video games, in fact, weren't they a little better off-playing outside, getting exercise and fresh air? And the computer we got 15 years ago that seemed to be the most whiz bang thing ever-far too difficult for me to ever unravel it's mysteries, is now a thing defunct. Don't even know where it went. I abhor how we have to have the next big electronic widget, tossing the last one aside because it is obsolete, how families sit in separate rooms staring at their monitors. BUT, in the last couple of weeks I am becoming one of them. Since getting involved in ravelry.com. I could-and do- spend hours on the site. Hours, mind you, that I really don't have to waste. I have a list of projects and chores that fill notebooks, I have 2 jobs and a family. And I have real knitting, quilting, and sewing to do. Oh yeah, and scrapbooking (note to self: gotta get Jeff's scrapbook done before he gets back on his birthday, uh that's 23 years work of scrapbooking in 1 month). But it is such brilliant fun I can't stop. I am inspired every moment I am on the site. I think that the couple who invented the site (who were featured in a knitting magazine recently, I think Vogue Knitting) should be canonized. And trying to do this blog, which may be silly, but I do enjoy it. It's like talking about yourself and your favorite things but you don't have to watch your family- friends-co-workers get that glazed look like they're being polite but would you please shut up no one wants to hear that much about knitting-gardening-sewing-your grandkids-your kids... If someone is here, they want to be, but it FEELS like someone is listening, you know? So maybe I really have crossed to the dark side. I believe that a computer network cares about me. Thanks for listening, computer network

The Lost Weekend and a Diamond Ring

I know I had two days off this weekend. I mean, I left work on Wednesday, and worked again on Saturday, but, honestly, I can't remember Thursday and Friday. Was it a black-out bender? Nope. Just ravelry.com. Hours and hours spent taking pictures...of YARN, for gods sake, and uploading and downloading, and describing and seeing how many other people have that yarn, and what have they made, and, whoa, that's really pretty, she and I must have similar taste, I wonder what other projects she's done, and I like that one, I think I have that book, and on and on and on. Fascinating. To me anyway. I tried to get my husband to see the light and he just got a glazed look and said things like "I'm glad you're having fun" and "uh sure, that's a pretty scarf" and kept looking up at the olympics. The real olympics, not even the Ravelolympics. He also got a look at my yarn stash as I brought up tub after tub of yarn, many with price tags still on and he started doing the math. As I left for Stitch and Bitch Thursday night, he said to the dog, "while she's gone, let's sell her yarn on eBay and we can probably pay off the house."
I did go kayaking with Jeff (DS23) and I did some actual knitting on the big ivy scarf and got sleeves cast on for Allie Kate's sweater. And I think I vaccumed once.... no that was Mike (DH). Hmmm.
So this evening I was having a bit of a ravelry hangover when my daughter sent me a picture on my cell phone. It was of a beautiful diamond ring on the third finger of her left hand. Not a huge surprise, we knew it was coming, but we are all thrilled. Her fiance (my daughter has a fiance!) is a great guy and fits right in with our family. I had missed an earlier message on the cell phone from Mike saying that Jason (the fiance) had called him to ask for his permission and blessing before he proposed. Awwwww. So now the preparations begin. I guess I will have to limit my ravelry time as I help Heather (DD22) plan this happy event.

Dreaming of Mittens

I don't know if it was a dream. I wasn't quite asleep, just very relaxed. Getting a pedicure actually-maybe a vision. All I know is I saw the mittens I need to make. First pair: grey and peach wool with a fair isle band in the peach part in greys and plums. Second pair: Green with stranded designs in burgundy, red, orange and gold. So today I found myself at the yarn store. Got new shetland yarn to do the peach/grey mittens, even though I probably have it in my stash. But I just love that yarn, and it's not very expensive. And the royal blue sportweight superwash was on clearance and a total bargain. And I needed to get some more grey wool cotton in case I want to make something and 15 skeins isn't enough. And there was this beautiful alpaca that looks handpainted in taupes creams and mauves. mmmm. And that was really going to be it, but at the counter, I saw a skein of blue and green cherry Hill sock yarn next to a skein of yellows reds and oranges. Greens and warm colors, sound familiar? I mean is that a sign or what? And I have been wanting to play with using two different varigated yarns, and you know you can't screw around with visions. So I got my mitten yarn. Oh and a few books. You can never have too many. And I spent about an hour admiring my stash when I put my new stuff away. I need some new plastic boxes. I need to stop buying yarn. But, hey, it was a VISION, OK?

In Which She Enters Blogdom

OK, here goes:
I am not good with computers. Plain and simple. But the thought of blogging came to me yesterday when I was working outside. I was really productive, picking berries and veggies, weeding, taking pictures of our pretty garden. I was thinking that I wished I had a record of days like that, of what I accomplished, and what I was thinking, and a way to keep pictures of how things looked. And I realized that such a thing existed! That, in fact, I have toyed with the idea of doing it before but have been intimidated. A Blog! Lil' ole me, blogging, who'd have thought?
I've always thought of blogs as kind of like those letters you send with Christmas Cards. I love reading other people's, but I am never sure why anyone would want to read mine. The truth is, though, that as much as I crave approval and adoration, even if no one ever reads this, it's a good diary for me. So on days when I feel like I will never accomplish enough, I can return to these industrious days and say see, self? You're not so bad. So what did I do this weekend? Picked and froze 2 gallons of blueberries and took a few to my neighbor. Picked and canned 5 (just the beginning) quarts of green beans, picked zuchini and baked and froze zuchini bread and made a new recipe for dinner:
Egg and Corn Quesadilla
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp olive oil

3 cups fresh or frozen corn

12 teasp dried cilantro flakes(I used a handful of fresh cilantro, chopped up

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

4 eggs, beaten (I used 6 or 7 because we have lots of eggs filling the fridge)

4 large flour tortillas

1/2 cup salsa

1 cup sour cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarello cheese

**In a skillet, saute onion, green pepper and garlic in oil until tender. Add the corn, chives, cilantro, salt and pepper. Cook until heated through , about 3 minutes. Stir in eggs; cook until completely set, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat

**Place one tortilla on a lightly greased baking sheet or pizza pan, top with a third of the corn mixtures, salsa and sour cream. Sprinkle with a fourth of the cheeses. Repeat layers twice. Top with the remaining tortilla and cheeses

**Bake at 350 for 10 minutes of until the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges.Serve with salsa and sour cream if desired-i also served with guacamole. from taste of Home Prize Winning Recipes 2008

It was a success, more filling than you might imagine and while there is no meat it feels very substantial. I served watermelon cut up and breaded zuchini rounds fried in olive oil. The dinner was a hit

Unfortunately after dinner, I knew that I was going to have to go to bed because I had work today. It depressed me incredibly. I always get down after having a nice weekend then having to go back to work. But I did it. Work ended a little early so I went by the grocery store then home where Jeff tried to help me work on my golf swing. I am very slowly making strides. Someday